The channel is available on Satellite, Cable, IPTV and Freeview platforms. A timeshift service with the name Dave ja vu(a play on the phrase déjà vu) is available on the Virgin Media, Sky Digital and Freeview platforms. It was originally called Dave+1, and launched on Freeview on 22 January 2009 under this name. However, it was renamed on 24 February 2009, to "strengthen the brand's positioning as the home of witty banter."[1] This service launched on 1 November 2004 with the name UKTV G2 +1. At first UKTV G2+1 timeshared with UKTV Bright Ideas meaning it broadcast from 6:00am to 6:00pm.

Dave Channel Controller or Channel Head - Steven North.

Contents

History

UK Gold Classics was launched when UK Gold began to move towards newer programmes instead of older ones. From 2 April 1999 it was renamed to UK Gold 2, and screened morning programmes from UK Gold time-shifted to the evening of the same day. It was again relaunched with a completely new programme lineup and renamed UKG² on 12 November 2003. Along with the rest of the UKTV network, the "UK" prefix was changed to "UKTV" on 8 March 2004 and therefore the channel name changed to UKTV G2 causing the subsequently launched timeshift service to be called UKTV G2 +1. The continuity announcers had been known to make fun of the extreme length of the full name saying that "it's for watching rather than saying", "more laughs than letters in its name" or "more letters than Postman Pat".

The output of the channel is mainly comedy from the BBC with some shows produced inhouse. A fair amount is similar to the comedy output of UK Play/Play UK before that channel's closure.

On 7 October 2005 it was announced that UKTV G2 would show sports programming. This new line-up was called UKTV Sport and included a new show by the same name. UKTV Sport also had its own logo and DOG. There was talk that this could lead to a channel but it never happened.[2]

In February 2006, UKTV G2 picked up the rights to show highlights of the RBS Six Nations rugby union championship, with a highlights show broadcast on the evening of the games previously shown live on the BBC. On 16 March 2006, UKTV G2 announced a deal to air extensive coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a sub licensing of the BBC's rights to the tournament.[3] UKTV G2 simulcasted the BBC's live matches, including the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica, England's game with Paraguay and the final. The channel also showed highlights of every match in the tournament.

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Rebranding and Freeview launch

In September 2007, UKTV announced that they would relaunch and rename UKTV G2 to Dave on 15 October.[4] UKTV said the name of the channel was chosen because "Everybody knows a bloke called Dave". The rebrand included the channel being available free-to-air on digital terrestrial platform, Freeview, replacing UKTV Bright Ideas which only averaged 0.1% of the audience share.[5] The move to Freeview saw Dave launch in the bandwidth previously used by UKTV History which was moved to the time limited (07:00-18:00) bandwidth once occupied by UKTV Bright Ideas. Dave is available daily, from 7 am to 3 am, on all platforms. It uses the tagline "the home of witty banter" and uses Ralph Ineson as an announcer, along with David Flynn, Phill Jupitus, Iain Lee[citation needed], and Radio 1 DJ Greg James, who announce during the prime-time schedule.

To ensure that all Freeview viewers receive the channel on number 19, UKTV briefly placed a re-tuning notice on the programme's information.

From 31 January 2008, Dave began broadcasting in widescreen, along with the other UKTV channels.[6]

In April 2009, Dave aired 3 new installments of Red Dwarf, entitled Back To Earth. This marks the channel's first foray into scripted original programming. During the airing of the Red Dwarf miniseries the Dave DOG in the top left corner of the screen had the word 'Lister' added after it in the same font after the show's lead character; during the show it is even suggested that the station is named after him. Back to Earth brought Dave record breaking viewing figures, not just in the context of Dave's past, but for digital television in general.[7]

In June 2009 Dave's logo was updated to incorporate the 'circle' logo branding of all the new UKTV channels (for example Blighty, and Really). (see uktv.co.uk), at this time the voice of Dave became Nigel Grover, aka Scott Saunders.

Reception

Within just one month of its launch, Dave had become the tenth largest television channel in the UK. The broadcaster puts daily averages at around 3 million viewers[citation needed], although much of the growth may be attributed to its presence on Freeview; nonetheless, it is performing significantly better in pay TV homes than UKTV G2 ever did. Over the month since its launch, Dave averaged a 1.32% share in multichannel homes and a 3.2% share in the 16-34 male demographic.[8]

Dave's positive reception is proven by an attraction of 4 million viewers throughout 18 November 2007 for its coverage of "Car of the Year", pushing it to second place in multichannel behind ITV2.[8]

The first episode of Red Dwarf: Back to Earth attracted 2,060,000 viewers.[9] The highest rating original commission before this had been Red Bull X-Fighters (about 185,000).

Sponsorship

As a commercial television channel, Dave raises revenue through advertising and sponsorship. For example, Halfords sponsors motoring programmes and Old Speckled Hen ale sponsors prime time programming after 9PM[10].